Things are looking good for the Montezuma-Cortez High School boys track and field team for a chance to repeat as Western Regional champions.

With more than 30 boys out for track including a host of veterans back, the prospects look good for another strong season under second-year head coach Bob Archibeque.

‘We should be able to score quite a few points in the district meet (regionals)," Archibeque commented. "Grand Junction Central has a good team this year with quite a few distance runners back. With the new qualifying system (new rule this year where athletes can hit times and distances at certain regular-season meets to qualify for State) we should be able to score quite a bit if we can get some of our relays qualified early."

Archibeque said he feels real good about the coming season.

"I feel real good, real good. We have eight to 10 kids who are very, very strong and who could score a lot of points for us. I think they can score well in the regular-season and league meet and possibly advance (to State). We should be a well-balanced team but I think our strengths are possibly with our sprinters, throwers, and jumpers," he commented.

The 4X100 relay should be very good this season with Jake Collett, Adam Williams, Josh Lee and Andrew Pearson. They are all short sprinters as well.

The defending Southwest League shot put champion Brian Balfour is back for his junior year. Sophomore Derique Duran is expected to develop into a very good thrower. Pearson will throw the shot and the discus.

Jeff Yarbrough is a hurdler and high jumper.

Charlie Ream and Josh Mortensen are half-milers. But the Panthers will be inexperienced at the longer running events.

"I see us doing well in a lot of areas but our real strength is in our sprint group," he added.

The schedule is very good this year, according to Archibque.

The Panthers hosted the Cortez Relays and will compete today, March 14, at the Durango Invitational. Archibeque will take some of his younger athletes to that meet. The veterans plus some of the younger ones will compete in the dome at the Round Valley Invitational at Springerville, Ariz., this Friday, March 17.

Several of the veterans will run at the Chandler Invitational in Chandler, Ariz., while some of the younger ones will compete at the Moab, Utah, Invitational on March 25, the first weekend of Spring Break. The Panthers will compete in the first qualifying meet at the Lions Club Invitational in Grand Junction on April 8. They will participate in the Window Rock Invitational in Window Rock, Ariz., on April 14.